Load data, Hornady 150gr FMJ 30-06

[bckline]

I'm a new reloader and am looking to develop a load for Hornady 3037 bullets, their basic 150 gr FMJ BT, in 30-06. The only powder I have on hand is IMR 4320, so if anyone has worked up a load with that powder that would be phenomenal. If not, any other loads that have shot well would also be very helpful. Thanks!

[24Sailor]

I'm a new reloader and am looking to develop a load for Hornady 3037 bullets, their basic 150 gr FMJ BT, in 30-06. The only powder I have on hand is IMR 4320, so if anyone has worked up a load with that powder that would be phenomenal. If not, any other loads that have shot well would also be very helpful. Thanks!

1.) Hornady has a reloading manual which is quite good. 2.) The 8th edition doesn't have data for IMR 4320. 3.) Try 49 grains and confirm that with a published manual for a starting load!!!! 52.2 or 52.3 may be max so be careful. I used unreliable software to generate these numbers

[froman118]

Loading for a bolt action or the M1? It's right next to Varget on the burn chart and is just about the slowest recommended powder for the M1.

[RugerNo1]

30-06 with 150 grain bullet and IMR 4320 Start 49.0 grains / Stop 52.3 grains. This data may or may not be safe in Military Surplus rifles.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

[bckline]

Excellent. I'm loading for a bolt action, so slow burn rate shouldn't be an issue. I've got to get a Hornady manual, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the useful suggestions.

[Noonanda]

Found this info here on Hodgdons website,

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

150 GR. NOS BT IMR IMR 4320 .308" 3.250" 49.0 2850 51,600 PSI 52.3 3016 58,000 PSI

[bckline]

I finally got around to loading some of these bullets recently, but rather than using the good advice in this thread, I stupidly used the 150gr spire point data from my Lyman manual. I only realized after the fact that that data is NOT for a boat-tail bullet (the ones I'm loading are boat tails). The Lyman manual suggests a range of 47.0-53.0 gr IMR4320, so I loaded 5 each of 47, 47.5, 48, 48.5 for starters.

Unfortunately, all of these charges are below the recommended starting point for a 150gr BT bullet (listed in the above posts as 49.0 gr). Is it unwise to shoot these, since they're sub-minimum charges? I've heard accounts of exceptionally mild charges detonating (rather than burning normally) for unexplained reasons, but these don't seem like they'd be THAT low. The main question is, do I just shoot them or should I disassemble them and re-throw the charges?

I have a bullet puller to disassemble the rounds if need be -- never having used it on a live round, though, I must admit I'm a bit scared of it. I realize this is what they're designed for, but someone please reassure me that the impact of a bullet puller is not enough of a shock to set off a primer.

[RugerNo1]

You rifle should still go bang (in the good way). You are correct, those charges are not "exceptionally" low. I load 46 grains of IMR 4064 for 30-06 in my M1 Garand and have never had a problem. That is not the same powder, but that load is still a full grain under Hodgdon's published minimum and still goes bang.

[bckline]

You rifle should still go bang (in the good way). You are correct, those charges are not "exceptionally" low. I load 46 grains of IMR 4064 for 30-06 in my M1 Garand and have never had a problem. That is not the same powder, but that load is still a full grain under Hodgdon's published minimum and still goes bang.

Alrighty. Thanks for the input. I might disassemble the lower two (47.0 and 47.5 gr) just to be safe, and reload them at 49 and 49.5.

[wtkaiser]

I seriously doubt they will detonate. That only happens when you load seriously low charges in big cases. Something odd and usual about the space in the case and pressure curves and it's all too weird for me to understand, much less try to explain. But 2 grains at that level is no sweat.

Of course, it's not my face by the chamber. As Obi-Wan said "You must do what you feel is right, of course".